4 bed tastefully converted farmhouse in one of the sunniest most beautiful areas

Beautiful 160m² fully restored 4 bedroom farmhouse on extensive grounds in the Vendée, one of the sunniest parts of France. Minutes from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river.
Originally an 18th century farmhouse, our beautiful Vendée hideaway is now a fully restored large four bedroom family house, retaining its character and complete with all modern conveniences. It is very spacious with lots of natural light and is furnished to the highest standard for up to eight guests. It is a perfect base for exploring the beauty and history of the Vendée, or simply relaxing and enjoying rural France and the nearby attractions and beautiful beaches. There is ample parking in the enclosed grounds for several cars.
The rear of the house has a very large covered terrace, is west facing and has lovely sunset views across 1.75 acres of totally private gardens, so plenty of room for games, football and fun. The large private terrace is ideal for al fresco dining or winding down after a hard day of sightseeing, eating or playing on the beach. There are sun loungers, a barbecue and a table & chairs comfortably seating 8-10 for those long hot summer evenings sipping a glass of wine and listening to the crickets. The Vendée is renowned for its excellent climate - as much sunshine as the Cote d'Azur. A bonus is that the house stays cool inside on very hot days.
The ground floor features a very large fully equipped fitted kitchen with all that you could possibly need, a large dining room with seating at the solid oak table for eight and a comfortable spacious lounge area with a stereo and an electric piano for the musically inclined!! There is a large double bedroom, bathroom with walk in shower and a separate WC. The ground floor bedroom and bathroom mean that the house is ideal for the handicapped or mobility challenged, there are no steps leading to the house.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one king size and two twins, a large modern bathroom with twin sinks and bath and a mezzanine/play area with computer, DVD player and a fold out double sofa bed (for occasional use only). Outside, the house has a spacious cool cellar and a large outbuilding where you will find four bikes, various bats, balls, boules and play equipment and sufficient space to park a car and trailer if shade is preferred. The garden has a 4 metre diameter trampoline, swingball and a tyre swing to keep the children amused, they can even pick blackberries and collect walnuts in the garden from the 25 year old walnut tree.
There is oil fired radiator central heating throughout. There are plenty of books for adults, games for kids of all ages and the house is fully equipped for baby, if required, with solid cot and mattress, bottle sterilizer, high chair, rocker seat, changing area and car booster seats, so you can leave them all at home!
Enjoy beaches, fantastic food and wine, Puy du Fou, Futuroscope, horse riding, swimming, cycling, walking or just doing nothing in one of the sunniest and most pleasant areas of France.
You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! The house is close to all amenities, beautiful beaches, lovely restaurants, Puy du Fou, 5 minutes from horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices, Mervent Forest Park and lakes, Parc de Pierre Brun amusement park, Mervent Zoo, Nantes, La Rochelle and its aquarium, Marais Poitevin, a lovely public swimming pool , 4 golf courses and vineyards.
Our house is just a four minute walk from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river. You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! There is also a football pitch for ball games, tennis court and a skateboard park about 5 minutes walk away. All around the area of La Caillere there are many tracks and lanes perfect for walking and cycling and plenty of beautiful spots for picnics. Set off in any direction and your eye is drawn to the plentiful array of Chateaux and ancient farms. There is an extensive network of clearly marked footpaths and trails and there is a large selection of maps and guide books in the house.
***Nearby attractions (Within 30 minutes)
Puy Du Fou - the fourth most popular attraction in France, is only 25 minutes away. This is a MUST if you have children around 8-16 years old and for adults also. The night time show, Cinescenie, boasts the largest stage in the world, thousands of actors, hundreds of horses and about 400 fireworks per performance! It is breathtaking and unforgettable.
Poney Club de Menjopolis – Horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices through the vast estate which holds the annual COMPÉTITION ÉQUESTRE VENDÉE is only 5 minutes away.
Mervent Forest Park and lakes - the largest forest in the Vendee.
Parc de Pierre Brun - a Fun Park on a 25 acre site full of attractions for all the family.
Mervent Zoo - with over 200 animal of 50 different species including include lions, camels, kangaroos and Bengal Tigers. There is also a children's pet farm on site
Vouvant - Un des plus beaux villages de France, a beautiful old village with many art exhibitions and artisan shops.
Lac de Rochereau - a vast dam lake where you can hire boats and windsurf
La Folie de Finfarine - Explore the world of bees and honey making in the heart of nature. A great outing for the whole family, the park offers a fun, educational discovery trail for the young and old alike to learn about the trees, bees and frogs.
The Museum of the Two Victories and the abbeys at Nieul sur l'Autise and Maillezais
***Nearby attractions (within 1 hour)
Nantes - with all the attractions of one of France's major cities, including a Safari Park!
La Rochelle - a beautiful coastal city with its world renowned aquarium and Ile de Re.
Indian Forest - one of the largest adventure parks in France, based on the theme of aerial adventures in the trees, 310 events on 17 different courses!
Marrans - a picturesque canal and river town where you can hire a boat to explore the canals and waterways of the Marais Poitevin with a picnic, a real kids favourite.
Château Talmont St.Hilaire – daily demonstrations of medieval life.
Atlantic Toboggan, St.Hilaire-de-Riez - water park and fun park for all the family.
The vineyards of the Loire valley in Chinon, Saumur and Pays Nantais
Futuroscope in Poitiers is 90 minutes away, one of the most visited theme parks in France based upon multimedia, cinematography and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas and a few 4D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world. Futuroscope is at once exhilarating, fun, engaging and (don't tell the children) educational!
***Beaches
The beach on Lac de Rochereau is 10 minutes away where you can swim and sail.
The unspoilt Vendee beaches of La Tranche sur Mer and La Faute sur Mer (our favourite) are one hour away, as is Les Sables d'Olonne which is far busier.
There is a lovely public swimming pool with diving boards in Chantonnay at 10 minutes.
***Golf Courses
There are 4 excellent golf courses all around an hours drive;
Les Fontenelles, La Domangère, Port Bougenay and Mazieres en Gatine.
***Vineyards
The Orion vineyard, producing Domaine de la Barbiniere, is only 5 minutes away and well worth a visit - the proprietor speaks very good English
The vineyards of Mareuil, Pissotte and Vix are also a short drive away
The nearest large shopping centres are in Chantonnay and Fontenay-le-Comte, both a ten minute drive from your house. Both towns have large hypermarkets (Leclerc and Hyper-U) and a great variety of bars, restaurants and shops of every description. There is an excellent toy shop in Fontenay which the kids always love to visit and a fantastic market every Saturday morning with a huge array of fresh local produce, particularly fish and cheese. Fontenay is the more historic and picturesque of the two large towns with the River Vendee running through its centre. http://www.ville-fontenaylecomte.fr/ Both Fontenay and Chantonnay have mainline train stations if you would like to take a train journey to the beach or to explore without driving.
A five minute drive will bring you to the historic village of Bazoges en Pareds, a beautiful medieval living village which holds many festivals and exhibitions all year round. Pride of place in the village centre, alongside the church, goes to Le Donjon - a 14th Century keep, restored and open to visitors every day in Summer and Sundays in Winter, and floodlit at night. Alongside Le Donjon, a medieval garden is resplendent with the colours and smells of hundreds of traditional plants - flowers, vegetables and medicinal plants - that originated hundreds of years ago.
There is a fantastic restaurant attached to the Donjon, Auberge du Donjon, whose chef holds a Commondiere, Cordon Bleu de France and which is highly recommended by us for at least one evening meal treat during your stay, not overly suitable for young children though.
Of the many other superb restaurants in the area we would recommend one as not to be missed, only a short drive or cyclfrom your house. A long leisurely Sunday lunch in the beautiful surroundings of La Morliere

4 bed tastefully converted farmhouse in one of the sunniest most beautiful areas

Beautiful 160m² fully restored 4 bedroom farmhouse on extensive grounds in the Vendée, one of the sunniest parts of France. Minutes from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river.
Originally an 18th century farmhouse, our beautiful Vendée hideaway is now a fully restored large four bedroom family house, retaining its character and complete with all modern conveniences. It is very spacious with lots of natural light and is furnished to the highest standard for up to eight guests. It is a perfect base for exploring the beauty and history of the Vendée, or simply relaxing and enjoying rural France and the nearby attractions and beautiful beaches. There is ample parking in the enclosed grounds for several cars.
The rear of the house has a very large covered terrace, is west facing and has lovely sunset views across 1.75 acres of totally private gardens, so plenty of room for games, football and fun. The large private terrace is ideal for al fresco dining or winding down after a hard day of sightseeing, eating or playing on the beach. There are sun loungers, a barbecue and a table & chairs comfortably seating 8-10 for those long hot summer evenings sipping a glass of wine and listening to the crickets. The Vendée is renowned for its excellent climate - as much sunshine as the Cote d'Azur. A bonus is that the house stays cool inside on very hot days.
The ground floor features a very large fully equipped fitted kitchen with all that you could possibly need, a large dining room with seating at the solid oak table for eight and a comfortable spacious lounge area with a stereo and an electric piano for the musically inclined!! There is a large double bedroom, bathroom with walk in shower and a separate WC. The ground floor bedroom and bathroom mean that the house is ideal for the handicapped or mobility challenged, there are no steps leading to the house.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one king size and two twins, a large modern bathroom with twin sinks and bath and a mezzanine/play area with computer, DVD player and a fold out double sofa bed (for occasional use only). Outside, the house has a spacious cool cellar and a large outbuilding where you will find four bikes, various bats, balls, boules and play equipment and sufficient space to park a car and trailer if shade is preferred. The garden has a 4 metre diameter trampoline, swingball and a tyre swing to keep the children amused, they can even pick blackberries and collect walnuts in the garden from the 25 year old walnut tree.
There is oil fired radiator central heating throughout. There are plenty of books for adults, games for kids of all ages and the house is fully equipped for baby, if required, with solid cot and mattress, bottle sterilizer, high chair, rocker seat, changing area and car booster seats, so you can leave them all at home!
Enjoy beaches, fantastic food and wine, Puy du Fou, Futuroscope, horse riding, swimming, cycling, walking or just doing nothing in one of the sunniest and most pleasant areas of France.
You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! The house is close to all amenities, beautiful beaches, lovely restaurants, Puy du Fou, 5 minutes from horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices, Mervent Forest Park and lakes, Parc de Pierre Brun amusement park, Mervent Zoo, Nantes, La Rochelle and its aquarium, Marais Poitevin, a lovely public swimming pool , 4 golf courses and vineyards.
Our house is just a four minute walk from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river. You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! There is also a football pitch for ball games, tennis court and a skateboard park about 5 minutes walk away. All around the area of La Caillere there are many tracks and lanes perfect for walking and cycling and plenty of beautiful spots for picnics. Set off in any direction and your eye is drawn to the plentiful array of Chateaux and ancient farms. There is an extensive network of clearly marked footpaths and trails and there is a large selection of maps and guide books in the house.
***Nearby attractions (Within 30 minutes)
Puy Du Fou - the fourth most popular attraction in France, is only 25 minutes away. This is a MUST if you have children around 8-16 years old and for adults also. The night time show, Cinescenie, boasts the largest stage in the world, thousands of actors, hundreds of horses and about 400 fireworks per performance! It is breathtaking and unforgettable.
Poney Club de Menjopolis – Horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices through the vast estate which holds the annual COMPÉTITION ÉQUESTRE VENDÉE is only 5 minutes away.
Mervent Forest Park and lakes - the largest forest in the Vendee.
Parc de Pierre Brun - a Fun Park on a 25 acre site full of attractions for all the family.
Mervent Zoo - with over 200 animal of 50 different species including include lions, camels, kangaroos and Bengal Tigers. There is also a children's pet farm on site
Vouvant - Un des plus beaux villages de France, a beautiful old village with many art exhibitions and artisan shops.
Lac de Rochereau - a vast dam lake where you can hire boats and windsurf
La Folie de Finfarine - Explore the world of bees and honey making in the heart of nature. A great outing for the whole family, the park offers a fun, educational discovery trail for the young and old alike to learn about the trees, bees and frogs.
The Museum of the Two Victories and the abbeys at Nieul sur l'Autise and Maillezais
***Nearby attractions (within 1 hour)
Nantes - with all the attractions of one of France's major cities, including a Safari Park!
La Rochelle - a beautiful coastal city with its world renowned aquarium and Ile de Re.
Indian Forest - one of the largest adventure parks in France, based on the theme of aerial adventures in the trees, 310 events on 17 different courses!
Marrans - a picturesque canal and river town where you can hire a boat to explore the canals and waterways of the Marais Poitevin with a picnic, a real kids favourite.
Château Talmont St.Hilaire – daily demonstrations of medieval life.
Atlantic Toboggan, St.Hilaire-de-Riez - water park and fun park for all the family.
The vineyards of the Loire valley in Chinon, Saumur and Pays Nantais
Futuroscope in Poitiers is 90 minutes away, one of the most visited theme parks in France based upon multimedia, cinematography and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas and a few 4D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world. Futuroscope is at once exhilarating, fun, engaging and (don't tell the children) educational!
***Beaches
The beach on Lac de Rochereau is 10 minutes away where you can swim and sail.
The unspoilt Vendee beaches of La Tranche sur Mer and La Faute sur Mer (our favourite) are one hour away, as is Les Sables d'Olonne which is far busier.
There is a lovely public swimming pool with diving boards in Chantonnay at 10 minutes.
***Golf Courses
There are 4 excellent golf courses all around an hours drive;
Les Fontenelles, La Domangère, Port Bougenay and Mazieres en Gatine.
***Vineyards
The Orion vineyard, producing Domaine de la Barbiniere, is only 5 minutes away and well worth a visit - the proprietor speaks very good English
The vineyards of Mareuil, Pissotte and Vix are also a short drive away
The nearest large shopping centres are in Chantonnay and Fontenay-le-Comte, both a ten minute drive from your house. Both towns have large hypermarkets (Leclerc and Hyper-U) and a great variety of bars, restaurants and shops of every description. There is an excellent toy shop in Fontenay which the kids always love to visit and a fantastic market every Saturday morning with a huge array of fresh local produce, particularly fish and cheese. Fontenay is the more historic and picturesque of the two large towns with the River Vendee running through its centre. http://www.ville-fontenaylecomte.fr/ Both Fontenay and Chantonnay have mainline train stations if you would like to take a train journey to the beach or to explore without driving.
A five minute drive will bring you to the historic village of Bazoges en Pareds, a beautiful medieval living village which holds many festivals and exhibitions all year round. Pride of place in the village centre, alongside the church, goes to Le Donjon - a 14th Century keep, restored and open to visitors every day in Summer and Sundays in Winter, and floodlit at night. Alongside Le Donjon, a medieval garden is resplendent with the colours and smells of hundreds of traditional plants - flowers, vegetables and medicinal plants - that originated hundreds of years ago.
There is a fantastic restaurant attached to the Donjon, Auberge du Donjon, whose chef holds a Commondiere, Cordon Bleu de France and which is highly recommended by us for at least one evening meal treat during your stay, not overly suitable for young children though.
Of the many other superb restaurants in the area we would recommend one as not to be missed, only a short drive or cyclfrom your house. A long leisurely Sunday lunch in the beautiful surroundings of La Morliere

4 bed tastefully converted farmhouse in one of the sunniest most beautiful areas

4 bed tastefully converted farmhouse in one of the sunniest most beautiful areas

Beautiful 160m² fully restored 4 bedroom farmhouse on extensive grounds in the Vendée, one of the sunniest parts of France. Minutes from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river.
Originally an 18th century farmhouse, our beautiful Vendée hideaway is now a fully restored large four bedroom family house, retaining its character and complete with all modern conveniences. It is very spacious with lots of natural light and is furnished to the highest standard for up to eight guests. It is a perfect base for exploring the beauty and history of the Vendée, or simply relaxing and enjoying rural France and the nearby attractions and beautiful beaches. There is ample parking in the enclosed grounds for several cars.
The rear of the house has a very large covered terrace, is west facing and has lovely sunset views across 1.75 acres of totally private gardens, so plenty of room for games, football and fun. The large private terrace is ideal for al fresco dining or winding down after a hard day of sightseeing, eating or playing on the beach. There are sun loungers, a barbecue and a table & chairs comfortably seating 8-10 for those long hot summer evenings sipping a glass of wine and listening to the crickets. The Vendée is renowned for its excellent climate - as much sunshine as the Cote d'Azur. A bonus is that the house stays cool inside on very hot days.
The ground floor features a very large fully equipped fitted kitchen with all that you could possibly need, a large dining room with seating at the solid oak table for eight and a comfortable spacious lounge area with a stereo and an electric piano for the musically inclined!! There is a large double bedroom, bathroom with walk in shower and a separate WC. The ground floor bedroom and bathroom mean that the house is ideal for the handicapped or mobility challenged, there are no steps leading to the house.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one king size and two twins, a large modern bathroom with twin sinks and bath and a mezzanine/play area with computer, DVD player and a fold out double sofa bed (for occasional use only). Outside, the house has a spacious cool cellar and a large outbuilding where you will find four bikes, various bats, balls, boules and play equipment and sufficient space to park a car and trailer if shade is preferred. The garden has a 4 metre diameter trampoline, swingball and a tyre swing to keep the children amused, they can even pick blackberries and collect walnuts in the garden from the 25 year old walnut tree.
There is oil fired radiator central heating throughout. There are plenty of books for adults, games for kids of all ages and the house is fully equipped for baby, if required, with solid cot and mattress, bottle sterilizer, high chair, rocker seat, changing area and car booster seats, so you can leave them all at home!
Enjoy beaches, fantastic food and wine, Puy du Fou, Futuroscope, horse riding, swimming, cycling, walking or just doing nothing in one of the sunniest and most pleasant areas of France.
You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! The house is close to all amenities, beautiful beaches, lovely restaurants, Puy du Fou, 5 minutes from horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices, Mervent Forest Park and lakes, Parc de Pierre Brun amusement park, Mervent Zoo, Nantes, La Rochelle and its aquarium, Marais Poitevin, a lovely public swimming pool , 4 golf courses and vineyards.
Our house is just a four minute walk from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river. You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! There is also a football pitch for ball games, tennis court and a skateboard park about 5 minutes walk away. All around the area of La Caillere there are many tracks and lanes perfect for walking and cycling and plenty of beautiful spots for picnics. Set off in any direction and your eye is drawn to the plentiful array of Chateaux and ancient farms. There is an extensive network of clearly marked footpaths and trails and there is a large selection of maps and guide books in the house.
***Nearby attractions (Within 30 minutes)
Puy Du Fou - the fourth most popular attraction in France, is only 25 minutes away. This is a MUST if you have children around 8-16 years old and for adults also. The night time show, Cinescenie, boasts the largest stage in the world, thousands of actors, hundreds of horses and about 400 fireworks per performance! It is breathtaking and unforgettable.
Poney Club de Menjopolis – Horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices through the vast estate which holds the annual COMPÉTITION ÉQUESTRE VENDÉE is only 5 minutes away.
Mervent Forest Park and lakes - the largest forest in the Vendee.
Parc de Pierre Brun - a Fun Park on a 25 acre site full of attractions for all the family.
Mervent Zoo - with over 200 animal of 50 different species including include lions, camels, kangaroos and Bengal Tigers. There is also a children's pet farm on site
Vouvant - Un des plus beaux villages de France, a beautiful old village with many art exhibitions and artisan shops.
Lac de Rochereau - a vast dam lake where you can hire boats and windsurf
La Folie de Finfarine - Explore the world of bees and honey making in the heart of nature. A great outing for the whole family, the park offers a fun, educational discovery trail for the young and old alike to learn about the trees, bees and frogs.
The Museum of the Two Victories and the abbeys at Nieul sur l'Autise and Maillezais
***Nearby attractions (within 1 hour)
Nantes - with all the attractions of one of France's major cities, including a Safari Park!
La Rochelle - a beautiful coastal city with its world renowned aquarium and Ile de Re.
Indian Forest - one of the largest adventure parks in France, based on the theme of aerial adventures in the trees, 310 events on 17 different courses!
Marrans - a picturesque canal and river town where you can hire a boat to explore the canals and waterways of the Marais Poitevin with a picnic, a real kids favourite.
Château Talmont St.Hilaire – daily demonstrations of medieval life.
Atlantic Toboggan, St.Hilaire-de-Riez - water park and fun park for all the family.
The vineyards of the Loire valley in Chinon, Saumur and Pays Nantais
Futuroscope in Poitiers is 90 minutes away, one of the most visited theme parks in France based upon multimedia, cinematography and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas and a few 4D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world. Futuroscope is at once exhilarating, fun, engaging and (don't tell the children) educational!
***Beaches
The beach on Lac de Rochereau is 10 minutes away where you can swim and sail.
The unspoilt Vendee beaches of La Tranche sur Mer and La Faute sur Mer (our favourite) are one hour away, as is Les Sables d'Olonne which is far busier.
There is a lovely public swimming pool with diving boards in Chantonnay at 10 minutes.
***Golf Courses
There are 4 excellent golf courses all around an hours drive;
Les Fontenelles, La Domangère, Port Bougenay and Mazieres en Gatine.
***Vineyards
The Orion vineyard, producing Domaine de la Barbiniere, is only 5 minutes away and well worth a visit - the proprietor speaks very good English
The vineyards of Mareuil, Pissotte and Vix are also a short drive away
The nearest large shopping centres are in Chantonnay and Fontenay-le-Comte, both a ten minute drive from your house. Both towns have large hypermarkets (Leclerc and Hyper-U) and a great variety of bars, restaurants and shops of every description. There is an excellent toy shop in Fontenay which the kids always love to visit and a fantastic market every Saturday morning with a huge array of fresh local produce, particularly fish and cheese. Fontenay is the more historic and picturesque of the two large towns with the River Vendee running through its centre. http://www.ville-fontenaylecomte.fr/ Both Fontenay and Chantonnay have mainline train stations if you would like to take a train journey to the beach or to explore without driving.
A five minute drive will bring you to the historic village of Bazoges en Pareds, a beautiful medieval living village which holds many festivals and exhibitions all year round. Pride of place in the village centre, alongside the church, goes to Le Donjon - a 14th Century keep, restored and open to visitors every day in Summer and Sundays in Winter, and floodlit at night. Alongside Le Donjon, a medieval garden is resplendent with the colours and smells of hundreds of traditional plants - flowers, vegetables and medicinal plants - that originated hundreds of years ago.
There is a fantastic restaurant attached to the Donjon, Auberge du Donjon, whose chef holds a Commondiere, Cordon Bleu de France and which is highly recommended by us for at least one evening meal treat during your stay, not overly suitable for young children though.
Of the many other superb restaurants in the area we would recommend one as not to be missed, only a short drive or cyclfrom your house. A long leisurely Sunday lunch in the beautiful surroundings of La Morliere

Beautiful 160m² fully restored 4 bedroom farmhouse on extensive grounds in the Vendée, one of the sunniest parts of France. Minutes from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river.

Originally an 18th century farmhouse, our beautiful Vendée hideaway is now a fully restored large four bedroom family house, retaining its character and complete with all modern conveniences. It is very spacious with lots of natural light and is furnished to the highest standard for up to eight guests. It is a perfect base for exploring the beauty and history of the Vendée, or simply relaxing and enjoying rural France and the nearby attractions and beautiful beaches. There is ample parking in the enclosed grounds for several cars.

The rear of the house has a very large covered terrace, is west facing and has lovely sunset views across 1.75 acres of totally private gardens, so plenty of room for games, football and fun. The large private terrace is ideal for al fresco dining or winding down after a hard day of sightseeing, eating or playing on the beach. There are sun loungers, a barbecue and a table & chairs comfortably seating 8-10 for those long hot summer evenings sipping a glass of wine and listening to the crickets. The Vendée is renowned for its excellent climate - as much sunshine as the Cote d'Azur. A bonus is that the house stays cool inside on very hot days.

The ground floor features a very large fully equipped fitted kitchen with all that you could possibly need, a large dining room with seating at the solid oak table for eight and a comfortable spacious lounge area with a stereo and an electric piano for the musically inclined!! There is a large double bedroom, bathroom with walk in shower and a separate WC. The ground floor bedroom and bathroom mean that the house is ideal for the handicapped or mobility challenged, there are no steps leading to the house.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one king size and two twins, a large modern bathroom with twin sinks and bath and a mezzanine/play area with computer, DVD player and a fold out double sofa bed (for occasional use only). Outside, the house has a spacious cool cellar and a large outbuilding where you will find four bikes, various bats, balls, boules and play equipment and sufficient space to park a car and trailer if shade is preferred. The garden has a 4 metre diameter trampoline, swingball and a tyre swing to keep the children amused, they can even pick blackberries and collect walnuts in the garden from the 25 year old walnut tree.

There is oil fired radiator central heating throughout. There are plenty of books for adults, games for kids of all ages and the house is fully equipped for baby, if required, with solid cot and mattress, bottle sterilizer, high chair, rocker seat, changing area and car booster seats, so you can leave them all at home!

Enjoy beaches, fantastic food and wine, Puy du Fou, Futuroscope, horse riding, swimming, cycling, walking or just doing nothing in one of the sunniest and most pleasant areas of France.

You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! The house is close to all amenities, beautiful beaches, lovely restaurants, Puy du Fou, 5 minutes from horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices, Mervent Forest Park and lakes, Parc de Pierre Brun amusement park, Mervent Zoo, Nantes, La Rochelle and its aquarium, Marais Poitevin, a lovely public swimming pool , 4 golf courses and vineyards.

Our house is just a four minute walk from the village of La Caillere and its 17th century church, situated close to the Vendée river. You can buy virtually everything that you might need in the bustling village which has a range of shops; a small well stocked Spar supermarket, boulangerie, café/bar/tabac, boucherie, poissonerie (Tuesdays and Saturdays), a lovely local style restaurant, hairdresser, bank with ATM, petrol station and catholic church. There are both a doctor's surgery and a dentist in the town, just in case! There is also a football pitch for ball games, tennis court and a skateboard park about 5 minutes walk away. All around the area of La Caillere there are many tracks and lanes perfect for walking and cycling and plenty of beautiful spots for picnics. Set off in any direction and your eye is drawn to the plentiful array of Chateaux and ancient farms. There is an extensive network of clearly marked footpaths and trails and there is a large selection of maps and guide books in the house.

***Nearby attractions (Within 30 minutes)

Puy Du Fou - the fourth most popular attraction in France, is only 25 minutes away. This is a MUST if you have children around 8-16 years old and for adults also. The night time show, Cinescenie, boasts the largest stage in the world, thousands of actors, hundreds of horses and about 400 fireworks per performance! It is breathtaking and unforgettable.

Poney Club de Menjopolis – Horse and pony riding for all levels 7 days a week at reasonable prices through the vast estate which holds the annual COMPÉTITION ÉQUESTRE VENDÉE is only 5 minutes away.

Mervent Forest Park and lakes - the largest forest in the Vendee.

Parc de Pierre Brun - a Fun Park on a 25 acre site full of attractions for all the family.

Mervent Zoo - with over 200 animal of 50 different species including include lions, camels, kangaroos and Bengal Tigers. There is also a children's pet farm on site

Vouvant - Un des plus beaux villages de France, a beautiful old village with many art exhibitions and artisan shops.

Lac de Rochereau - a vast dam lake where you can hire boats and windsurf

La Folie de Finfarine - Explore the world of bees and honey making in the heart of nature. A great outing for the whole family, the park offers a fun, educational discovery trail for the young and old alike to learn about the trees, bees and frogs.

The Museum of the Two Victories and the abbeys at Nieul sur l'Autise and Maillezais

***Nearby attractions (within 1 hour)

Nantes - with all the attractions of one of France's major cities, including a Safari Park!

La Rochelle - a beautiful coastal city with its world renowned aquarium and Ile de Re.

Indian Forest - one of the largest adventure parks in France, based on the theme of aerial adventures in the trees, 310 events on 17 different courses!

Marrans - a picturesque canal and river town where you can hire a boat to explore the canals and waterways of the Marais Poitevin with a picnic, a real kids favourite.

Château Talmont St.Hilaire – daily demonstrations of medieval life.

Atlantic Toboggan, St.Hilaire-de-Riez - water park and fun park for all the family.

The vineyards of the Loire valley in Chinon, Saumur and Pays Nantais

Futuroscope in Poitiers is 90 minutes away, one of the most visited theme parks in France based upon multimedia, cinematography and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas and a few 4D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world. Futuroscope is at once exhilarating, fun, engaging and (don't tell the children) educational!

***Beaches

The beach on Lac de Rochereau is 10 minutes away where you can swim and sail.

The unspoilt Vendee beaches of La Tranche sur Mer and La Faute sur Mer (our favourite) are one hour away, as is Les Sables d'Olonne which is far busier.

There is a lovely public swimming pool with diving boards in Chantonnay at 10 minutes.

***Golf Courses

There are 4 excellent golf courses all around an hours drive;

Les Fontenelles, La Domangère, Port Bougenay and Mazieres en Gatine.

***Vineyards

The Orion vineyard, producing Domaine de la Barbiniere, is only 5 minutes away and well worth a visit - the proprietor speaks very good English

The vineyards of Mareuil, Pissotte and Vix are also a short drive away

The nearest large shopping centres are in Chantonnay and Fontenay-le-Comte, both a ten minute drive from your house. Both towns have large hypermarkets (Leclerc and Hyper-U) and a great variety of bars, restaurants and shops of every description. There is an excellent toy shop in Fontenay which the kids always love to visit and a fantastic market every Saturday morning with a huge array of fresh local produce, particularly fish and cheese. Fontenay is the more historic and picturesque of the two large towns with the River Vendee running through its centre. http://www.ville-fontenaylecomte.fr/ Both Fontenay and Chantonnay have mainline train stations if you would like to take a train journey to the beach or to explore without driving.

A five minute drive will bring you to the historic village of Bazoges en Pareds, a beautiful medieval living village which holds many festivals and exhibitions all year round. Pride of place in the village centre, alongside the church, goes to Le Donjon - a 14th Century keep, restored and open to visitors every day in Summer and Sundays in Winter, and floodlit at night. Alongside Le Donjon, a medieval garden is resplendent with the colours and smells of hundreds of traditional plants - flowers, vegetables and medicinal plants - that originated hundreds of years ago.

There is a fantastic restaurant attached to the Donjon, Auberge du Donjon, whose chef holds a Commondiere, Cordon Bleu de France and which is highly recommended by us for at least one evening meal treat during your stay, not overly suitable for young children though.

Of the many other superb restaurants in the area we would recommend one as not to be missed, only a short drive or cyclfrom your house. A long leisurely Sunday lunch in the beautiful surroundings of La Morliere

About Tom Moriarty

Our family live and work in Dublin. We have three girls, 16, 13 and 8 and both parents are professionals in the accountancy and finance area. We adore France and French life and are very proud of our beautiful house. We would be happy to share all the experiences which it has to offer if you share the same love for France, cuisine, wine, fun and a great family holiday that we do. We guarantee you that you will finish your holiday wishing that you did not have to leave and looking forward to coming back!

Tom Moriarty purchased this farmhouse in 2007

Why Tom Moriarty chose La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire

We have spent many holidays in different areas of France, even spending our honeymoon touring the Loire Valley! We visited the Vendee in 2003 and fell in love with the area, one of the friendliest and most beautiful places we had ever been.

The Vendee has everything we love, beautiful countryside and villages, great beaches and restaurants, forests, lakes, horse riding, walking, cycling, golf, reasonably priced activities for all and stunning weather (it is one of the sunniest places in France with nearly 2,500 annual sunshine hours). It is very reasonably accessible with Nantes and La Rochelle airports served by Ryanair and others and is a managable drive in one stretch from the ferry ports. We worked hard to save for a house in the area and found our paradise with our beautifil hom

What makes this farmhouse unique

We love having so many things on our doorstep. We can enjoy the rural quiet life of the countryside and being in a small village with all ameneties, while also being close to beaches, forests, many fun parks, Puy du Fou, Futuroscope and larger cities like Nantes, La Rochelle and Poitiers with all they have to offer on day trips.

The local markets are fantastic and you can visit farms to buy fresh produce like honey, eggs, vegetables and cheese. The Orion vineyard, producing Domaine de la Barbiniere, is only 5 minutes away and well worth a visit, the vineyards of Mareuil, Pissotte and Vix are also a short drive away. We like our wine and it is so inexpensive there

Our children love every visit to our house, there is so much to do and at the same time so much relaxation and sunshine

Guestbook comments from the owner

Hi Tom,

Many thanks for your email.

We had a super time, and the weather did not stop us doing anything.

The information sheet you sent out was extremely helpful, and we probably covered the majority of the places you detailed. For us the highlight was Puy du Fou, and whilst we saw 5 of the main shows, our only regret was that we didn't book 2 day tickets to see some of the other smaller shows.

With regards to the house - it was fantastic and I would certainly recommend it. It was extremely spacious, and had everything (and more) that one would need. The grounds were great for the children, and we thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the terrace in the evening with a glass of wine and a BBQ. - the house was by far the best we have stayed in in the last 4 annual visits to France.

Description of sleeping capacity: Sleeps 8 (4 Bedrooms) Notes on bedrooms: Upstairs bedroom 1 has a king size bed and there are 2 rooms with twin single beds. Downstairs there is a self contained double room with attached tiled walk in shower room and separate WC which makes the house perfect for disabled or mobility impaired.

Entertainment:

Books

DVD Player

Games ...

Stereo ...

Television ...

Outside:

Bicycles ...

Terrace ...

Golf ...

Garden ...

Barbecue

Suitability:

suitable for elderly or infirm

wheelchair accessible ...

Pool / Spa:

Private Pool ...

Attractions:

autumn foliage

churches

forests

museums

restaurants

ruins

theme parks

winery tours

zoo

Leisure Activities:

bird watching

eco tourism

horse riding

scenic drives

sight seeing

walking

Local Services & Businesses:

ATM/bank

Babysitter

groceries

hospital

medical services

Sports & Adventure Activities:

cycling

equestrian events

fishing

fly fishing

freshwater fishing

golf

hiking

mountain biking

sailing

swimming

water skiing

wind-surfing

Notes:

Notes on accommodation: There is a TV, DVD player, PC, scanner and printer in the upstairs mezzanine for the use of guests. There are also plenty of games for the kids and lots of books for the adults as well as lots of maps, guidebooks, dictionaries and information on local activities and amenities. The house has wireless internet and a fixed line phone line for receiving calls only. There is mobile phone coverage at the house. Strictly No Smoking is allowed in the house, there is plenty of space on the terrace and the outside grounds for smoking! No pets allowed without prior written approval. The neighbours are very friendly and will help out if you are stuck. There are remote controlled gates to our house and ample parking for plenty of cars. There is oil fired central heating throughout and the underground cellar will store your wine and beer! We are fully equipped for baby, if required, with solid cot and mattress, bottle sterilizer, high chair, rocker seat, changing area, and booster seats. Outside: The rear of the house has a very large private covered terrace, is west facing and has lovely sunset views across 1.75 acres of totally private gardens, so plenty of room for games, football and fun. The terrace is ideal for al fresco dining or winding down after a day of sightseeing or at the beach. There are sun loungers, a barbecue and a table & chairs comfortably seating 8 for those long hot summer evenings sipping a glass of Vendée wine. The Vendée is renowned for its excellent climate - as much sunshine as the Cote d'Azur. Outside there is a large outbuilding where you will find four bikes, various bats, balls, boules and play equipment and sufficient space to park a car and trailer if shade is preferred. The garden has a 4 metre diameter trampoline, a 3.6m diameter kids pool, swingball and a tyre swing to keep the children amused, they can even pick blackberries and collect walnuts in the garden from the 250 year old walnut tree. There really is a huge amount of space! Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service: Linen and towels are supplied. The house is cleaned on each changeover. The house is spotless and we expect it to be left in the same condition on departure. We are fussy about our home and hope you will be too. No smoking in the house, terrace only! Other: There is a mezzanine/play area upstairs with a double sofa bed (for occasional use only). The house is very spacious and has tiled floors downstairs,wooden floors upstairs, window shutters to keep the house cool in the summer heat and central heating.

Lovely family house set in the heart of Vendee

Great base for a stay in Vendee. The house is well equipped for a family stay. Lots of space to run around in the garden. Good pool for the kids.

Review Submitted: 08-Aug-2017

Date of Stay: July 2017

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Thank you so much for your review and e-mails. Great to hear that you had an great stay and that you liked our house and the area, that is the most important thing that we can hear as feedback. Much appreciated and we would love to welcome you back again as you were perfect guests.

Fantastic property with every luxury and a great village and locality

The house has everything you could want, is very clean and comfortable and has loads of space both inside and out. Lovely neighbours, great garden with nice pool. The weather was fantastic while we were there.

There is everything you need in the local village including a great boulangerie, butcher, bar and restaurant and it is literally a 1 minute drive or 5 minutes walk. Bikes at the house are fine for a trek with loads of routes around to explore. Beds and sitting and dining areas were really comfortable and shower was great

Owners really friendly and helpful as were the neighbours. WiFi was OK but not superfast and all mod cons were in the house including computer, stereo, washing machine and even a piano, dart board and air hockey table

Will be back again as lots to do in the area including some lovely towns and restaurants, Puy du Fou (amazing and kids loved it) and nice beaches. Thanks for a great stay

Good sized house in a friendly village

We found the house spacious for a family of 5 and also well equipped. Lots of places to explore in the surrounding area. Lovely beaches an hours drive away. Village has a great boulangerie with friendly staff and also a great restaurant with equally friendly staff. Would recommend the property as a great base to explore the surrounding area. Some great lakes nearby to swim in and I would also recommend the Indian Forest for climbing and other fun activities.

Review Submitted: 20-Oct-2015

Date of Stay: July 2015

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: So glad that you had a great holiday and thank you for your kind review. Maybe we will welcome you back someday.

The beach on Lac de Rochereau is 10 minutes away where you can swim and sail.

The unspoilt Vendee beaches of La Tranche sur Mer and La Faute sur Mer (our favourite) are one hour away, as is Les Sables d'Olonne which is far busier.

There is a lovely public swimming pool with diving boards in Chantonnay at 10 minutes and waterparks nearby.

Travel:

Our house is an hours drive from Nantes and La Rochelle airports. It is approximately 4.5 hours drive from the ports of Cherbourg and Roscoff. The neares SNCF train stations are in Fontenay le Comte and Chantonnay, both a ten minute drive. Taxi services are available in La Caillere and other local towns if required

Distances:

The village of La Caillere has all your daily needs. The nearest large shopping centres are in Chantonnay and Fontenay-le-Comte, both a ten minute drive from your house. Both towns have large hypermarkets (Leclerc and Hyper-U) and a great variety of bars, restaurants and shops of every description. There is an excellent toy shop in Fontenay which the kids always love to visit and a fantastic market every Saturday morning with a huge array of fresh local produce, particularly fish and cheese.

Further Details:

A five minute drive will bring you to the historic village of Bazoges en Pareds, a beautiful medieval living village which holds many festivals and exhibitions all year round. Pride of place in the village centre, alongside the church, goes to Le Donjon - a 14th Century keep, restored and open to visitors every day in Summer and Sundays in Winter, and floodlit at night. Alongside Le Donjon, a medieval garden is resplendent with the colours and smells of hundreds of traditional plants - flowers, vegetables and medicinal plants - that originated hundreds of years ago.

There is a fantastic restaurant attached to the Donjon, Auberge du Donjon, whose chef holds a Commondiere, Cordon Bleu de France and which is highly recommended by us for at least one evening meal treat during your stay, not overly suitable for young children though.

Of the many other superb restaurants in the area we would recommend two as not to be missed, both only a short drive from your house. A long leisurely Sunday lunch in the beautiful surroundings of La Morliere, at Sarl du Lac, Sigournais, sitting majestically on the banks of the Rocherau lake complex, is a truly fantastic dining experience where you will be immersed in French cuisine and bonhomie and surrounded by French locals. Booking at least three weeks in advance for Sunday is a must. Le Saint-Georges at Saint-Juire Champgillon is another fantastic dining experience, particularly for their famous €12 set priced lunch menu on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There is no menu choice at lunchtime, you just eat what is on the menu for the day and it is always magnificent. Full menu is available for dinner and on Saturday and Sunday lunch. Booking well in advance is essential.

Our house is 20 minutes from Puy du Fou and close to Indian Forest Park, Mervent, Vouvent, La Folie de Finfarine fun park and bee farm and many museums, churches, small villages, walking and biking trails, horse riding, tennis, golf, fishing and the seaside!

Additional pricing information

Changeover Day:
Preferred change over day is Saturday but may be flexible depending on other bookings. Arrival time after 3pm, Departure time by 10am.

Notes on prices:
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds.
Cheaper rates for longer lets in the early spring, late autumn or winter will be considered.
Deposits are required of Stg£250 for security against damages and Stg£75 for cleaning.